DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 214, 19 December 1910, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

| (From Our Own Correspondents.) I T A RI'RUT AX G I. Thursday, tlie loth December, looked j very gloomy for the school concert, but towards evening the rain ceased and nearly all the parents in the district were present, besides a good number ol young folks from outside the district. The schoolroom was packed. Some 01 the children residing a long distance away did not turn up, and some of the items had to be omitted, but nevertheless it Mas a success. Mr. F. L. Bishop, the chairman of the school committee, presided. Miss 0. Giddy played the accompaniments, and she and the teachers deserve great credit for the way they trained the children. After the conceri, supper, which was provideed by the ladies of the district, was handed around and the floor got ready for dancing, which was kept going till 3 a.m.. Mr. L. Francis was M.C., and Miss Giddy (piano) and Mr. H. Tunbridge (piccolo) supplied the music. The following is the programme: — Overture, piano and piccolo,, "New York March," Miss Giddy and Mr. Tunbridge; opening speech, Mr.. C. Moss; duet, "Woodlands March," P. and ft. Greenway; song, "Ten little sunflowers," ten girls; recitation, "Dr. Quack," A. Slight; duet, ''Prince Imperial Gallop," M. Street and C. Bishop; song, "Flight of Ages," Mrs. Bates; recitation, "My Dolly," E. Rogers; chorus, "Fancy dress ball," children; dialogue, "My Neighbor's fowls," T. Bates, L. and V. Hurlestone; banjo and piccolo duet, "Uncle Sam's March," Messrs. Nipped; and Tunbridse (encored); song, "Dear Home Land," Mrs. Bates; duet, "Tarantella," Miss Giddy and Miss Bates; violin solo, L. Copes take; song (comic), ' Here we are again," Mr. Nippert (encored) ; trio, piano, flute and banjo, Miss Giddy, Messrs. Tunbridge and Nippert; recitation, "Lord Ullin's daughter," Rena Thomson; gramaphone selection, Mr. .Slight; "God Save the King."

OMATA. Tlie children attending the _ Omata school were presented with their prizes in the hall on Friday evening, December

16. Despite most unfavorable weather, a very fair number of parents and friends braved the elements; while the

juveniles were present in force. Mr. E. R. Bayly, chairman of the school committee, occupied the chair, and in his opening remarks explained how the funds were acquired to purchase prizes, viz., £1 5s 7d balance from last year, and £2 lis 9d presented by the Waireka Minstrels, four cash presents from Mr. Meyenberc, and three books from Miss O'Brien. Between the presentation, of

prizes to the various stiiiidurds scvcr<il musical items were given as follows; "Mrs. I. Hooker and Mr. Pearson played the Ppening duet in their usual efficient manne" r ; Mr. Meyenberg sang "When the ebb fide flows," and was loudly encored; Miss' Mace sang "Sing me to sleep"; little Mi»s Muriel PeargOH gang very prettily, "And a little child shall lead them." her enunciation being particularly good. Miss Otis Penwarden nitj Mr. Pearson played a pianoforte duet n( l some of the junior ehildfefl gave' a' The following ate

I pme-winnerh : . I Standard .V L -Annie O'Connor (dux of school 1, Kidd 2, Emma Bay'''standard V.—Jfortniu 1 Taylor 1, Ruth Evans 2, Ivy Matthews £■ Standard IV.—Bert > Arthur Huse 2, Evelyn WilliafflsoS iv Standard llL—Harol'd Bayly r l > Hllda Vickers 2. Willie Crompton 3. Standard ll.—Ernest Crockett 1, K ar " bara Pease 2, Edith Taylor 31 '■ Standard I.—Arthur Kendall 1, CJfiris-' tina Huse 2, Fred Seamark 3. Gifts were presented to each child ifi the Primer classes. Full attendance prizes were 'gained % Annie O'Connor, Frank Clemow, Robert Kidd, Olive Huse, Christina Huse, Fred Seamark, Harold Roberts, May Voight. Good conduct prizes were awarded, in Standards VI. and VII., Charlie Evans; standard V, Kathleen Mace; standard IV, Ona Penwarden; standard 111, Herbert Williamson; standard 11, Stuart Duke; standard I, Hugh Matthews; Primer 3, Vera Williamson; Primer 2, Ruby Hart; Primer 1, Hugh Clemow. Most popular child (by vote), Charlie Evans. Greatest progress, based on marks given throughout the year. —Standard VI, Emma Bayly; standard V, Ivy Matthews; standard IV, Keith Clemow; standard 111, Kenneth Matthews; standard 11, Olive Huse and Ernest Crockett (equal); standard I, Vaughan Bayly. Departmental certificates for full attendance were granted to seven pupils; certificates to pupils not having missed more than five half-days were granted to

five pupils. In the recent standard VI examination seven pupils were presented; six of these gained proficiency, and one competency. Last year only one pupil in the school made full attendance; this year eight have secured the prize, and the number would have been considerably greater but for the whooping cough. Next year we will hope for the absence of all epidemics and a large full attendance list. The children who have made full attendance for the quarter ending December SI are as follows:—Standard VI, Frank C'lemow, Charlie Evans, Robert Ividd and Annie O'Connor; standard V, Ruth Evans; standard IV, Arthur Huse, Ona Penwarden; standard 111, Harold Bayly; standard 11, Olive Huse; standard I, Jack Clemow, Leo Penwarden, Harold Roberts, Fred Seamark, Christina Huso, Muriel Pearson; Primer classes, John Neilson, May Voiglit. The following is the summary of the attendance for the year, the drop in the average for the present quarter being occasioned by an epidemic of whooping cough: —Quarter ending March 31, 91.4 boys, 90.0 girls, average 90.7; quarter ending June 30, 94.0 boys, 89.8 girls, average 91.8; quarter ending September 30, 94.0 boys, 91.6 girls, average 92.8; quarter ending December 31, 67.5 boys, 82.8 giris, average 75.3; average for jear, 80.7 boys, 88.5 girls, total average 87.6.

RAHOTU.

When Friday morning broke wet, there were many anxious hearts among the young folk, for was not the annual breaking-up concert to be held that evening, an event which they had been looking forward to for many weeks, and towards the successful issue of which much pains had been taken by the children and their teachers, Mr. Campbell and Miss Lewis? Fortunately, however, the fates were propitious, and a fine night being assured, there was a good attendance. The first half of the pTO-| gramme was provided by the children, the latter by the adults, the former part undoubtedly proving the most enjoyable, the children entering into the peT- 1 formance with that zest and abandon that characterise them. Particularly was this the case in that delightful little children's play, "Dick Whittington and the Cat,".which was presented far' 1 the first time ill Sft&otu:, I£/waa nicely

ous parts were taken as follows:— "Dick," Gordon McGregor; '•Cook," Maggie Fleming; ''Alice," Charlotte McGregor; "Fitzwarren," Maggie Hughson; "Captain Jack," Jim Fleming; '•Claude Hopping," John Thomas; "Fairv Queen," Kathleen Campbell; "King of Barbarv," Fred Chapman; "Queen" Miek Fleming. Prior to commencing this play, an overture was nicely rendered by Miss and Master liood. Between the acts, two recitations were clearly rendered by three tiny tots, Mona Lowry, Myrtle Phillips and Helena Campbell. Wand drill by twelve senior girls also proved very effective. The second part of the programme was opened with a comic song, "Robin Red Breast," by Mr. Grey, and as an encore, "Months and months and months;" Mr. Kelly rendered the "Little Hero," but be has often been lieard to better advantage. Other items were as follows: —Song, "Grand Old Lady." Miss Bertha Barrett; recitation, "How MeDougall topped the score," Mr. C. Cook; song, "Seaweed," Mr. E. Bamber, and as an encore, "In the Twilight." Mr. K. Cannell was accompanist. Mr. D. Anglesea, chairman of the committee, who presided, then presented the prizes. to the fortunate youngsters. Ethel Phillips was winner of tlie prize' presented by Mr. Willoughby for best attendance. After supper (provided by the parents) had been handed round, the hall was cleared for the inevitable dance. Mr. K. Cannell provided the music, and Messrs. P. Willcox and L. Billing were M.'sC.

IvJiXT ROAD. OS The annual prize-giving was held in the Kent' school on Friday afternoon, the 16th inst'., the chairma* (J. R. Rowlands) presiding. Although the weather was unfavorable, a large number of the parents and friends of the children attended. The chairman remarked that good progress had been' made in the school work during the past year. All the pupils had passed in their examinations. Only one had gone up for the sixth'standard proficiency examination (Leslie King) and had passed successfully, and he hoped next year more would be goihg up and meet with the same success. He was pleased to note that during the year they had not been visited by any serious epidemic, so that the school had been kept open during the whole year. In looking over the prizes they appeared to be better than ever*, and it made them all wish liiey were back to school days again, for in the old days it was not every child that received a pfize, but only those that obtained the most marks. It was noticeable how well the children had rendered their pieces, at the concert. The children presented Miss Smith with a handsome silver-hacked hair brush and comb. Afternoon tea was then ha>nd?d round by the ladies, thus ending a most enjoyabie afternoon.

I :■ -I , -■» j * OAKURA. <-JU' I "■ . i*"—-4-it* I ' Heavy rain fell during the last few days. Those who have got their turnips j in are smiling, but those who have their r manure lying in the middle of the pad- ' docks with a few sacks over it are look- ' ing rather glum. Maize crops everywhere are looking well; in fact, props of all descriptions give promise of a gflo4 season. Our school broke up' ifor the holidays on Friday, and a number oi the parents

( and school committee met at the school just before closing time, when afternoon tea. Was served to the scholars, and also j to the adults. After the good things had been done justice to, several special prizes were awarded to the scholars as follow:—i Sewing, Eileen Mace; spelling, t Rex Honeyfield; writing, Cora Linn and Austin Looney. A unique competition by the boys for the best darning was won by Arthur Aroa, Eric Honey- , field being second. The boys turned out real good darning, and if they continue to do as well as they have startev tlle . v should be useful members iof familiv ß by and.by, as they will be | able to du;rn all the children's sox. I After the .'children's tad been S given out, the fhairman, oil behalf of jthe scholars, presetted MissS Montgomery with a silver water-jug as tf Wedding present, as she will lit: ve changed her J •name before returning to Oakura. the ch.airman referred to the £;ood fellowship", existing, between scholars and teacher: and' referred to the good rejport Miss Montgomery had got this year, also stating' tlvat all the children had passed their standards, with' one exception! He hoped that the present teacher would continue' with them for some time! yet. , IVlr'. W. Honeyfield thanked the,children'oh Miss ; Montgomery's behalf, and after" the'diairnian had called for three, cheers fot" the teacher, the gathering broke up:' tikoraMl' The concert given by tli'fe "fikorangi

school children eventuated, on Tuesday eveninjg, and although this is 'the tJuSiest time of the year for 'those engaged in farming pursuits, yet the liall was well filled by '8 o'clock. With the exception' of the duet by Mrs. Kilpatrick and Miss Foreman, the. long and varied programme fras entirely given by the children, and they acquitted themselves remarkably well. The action ''songs; and' choruses were tunefully rendered, and both style and time were excellent. The recitative items were examples of clear and distinct enunciation, without any trace of that strained stage effect which so frequently mars the of r'much' older performers. Where well it would be invidious to particularise, and very great praise is due to Mr. and' Mrs; West and the Misses .Andrews, Alexander, and Lye, vhyse careful and thorough training of -ilie children was so markedly throughout the evening. The concert closed with' the National Anthem, and after supper had been handed around the customary dance followed. Appended is the concert programme: —Song, "Welcome"; recitation, "The Farmyard"; duet, piano and violin, Miss Foreman and Mrs. Kilpatrick; song, "Drummer Boy"; song, "Just like the ivy I'll cling to vou," Ida Foreman; club swinging, the girls; dialogue, "Bashful Lambs." P. Foster and H. O'Carroll; song, "Won't you buy my pretty flowers," Myra West; recitation, "A Baby's wail," Godfrey Sole; song, "British boys," Erie Alexander; recitation, "The Enchanted Shirt," Clarice Smart; song, "The school children's lament"; dialogue, "Sam Weller," H. Hine and A. Allen; song, "The dolls"; song, "Three maids of Lee,"; dialogue, "Handv Andy." E. Alexander, R. Whitehead, Ivan Vickers, Beg Armstrong and Edith Jury; song, "The Glory that is best"; song, "Grace Darling," Winnie Foreman; dialogue, "The Quack Doctor," E. Alexander, L. Jones and Reg Armstrong; cantata, "Soot and the Fairies," (Captain Soot) E. Alexander, (Queen of the Fairies) Myra Foreman.

OPUNAKE. The public school concert took place on Wednesday afternoon, and proved a pronounced success. There was a record house for any local concert in Opunake, the takings being between £2B and £3O. The'headmaster (Mr. firayy.lias b«in,asked to repeat,the pgr-.